Display rack



Oct. 12 1926.

rA. M. woLTz DISPLAY RACK Filed oct. 4,` 1921 mwN IN Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

- UNrreD STATES i 1,602,805 ,PATENT orsi-cs.

ALBERT M. WOLTZ, 0F BALTIMGRE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BYiMESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

T0 SAMUEL D. YOUNG, TRUSTEE, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

` nIsrLAY RACK.

Application led October 4, 1921. Serial No.y 505,251.

This invention is a device for supporting umbrellas, parasols `and the like, for display purposes. f c

It is the practice in some mercantile estab' lishmentsto provide racks for umbrellas, parasols and the like, which are constructed with an inclined base member having holes therein, into which are fitted bushings, through which the articles to be displayed are thrust. 'I he bushings are made of a diameter small enough to engage a rolled umbrella with considerable friction, in order that it may be retained against accidental displacement, andV substantially evenly spaced to make an attractive display. One of the disadvantages of this arrangement is that the repeated insertion and removal of the umbrella or parasol, by the salesman, causes the fabric to rub against the bushing, soon resulting in imparting a shopworn appearance, and in fact frequentlydamaglng the article. v p n One of the objects of the invention is to provide a display device, by means of which umbrellas and the like, `may 'be supported withtheir handles in stepped relation, by a meanswhich will engage only the ferrule end of the stick, and thereby avoid friction and' all rubbing action against the fabric forming the covers. A further object is to provide a device in which the articlejengag lng elements are adjustable, to receive uInbrella and parasol sticks or ferrul'esof different thicknesses. e

The `invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and lparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing Figure lis a side elevation illustrating a display rack constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away and shown` in section, the case or cabinet being diagrammatically indicated.' VFigure 2 is a topplan view, parts being' broken away and shown in section. Y

`Referring to the drawing, the articles to be displayed are preferably enclosed within a case or cabinet, constructed with a base 10, side walls 11, and a back wall 12, connected by a suitable top (not shown), and closed at the front bymovable doors, in a manner well-known in the art.

The article supporting portions of the cabinet lare mounted between spaced apart stringers 13, disposed in an inclined position within the case or cabinet, the lower ends being locatedat the front. Interposed between and secured` to the stringers 1B, are

spaced-apart risers 14, arranged in stepped relation, as clearly sli-own in Vligure 1. Secured to each riser isa set of blocksl, arranged between the stringers, the blocks of each set being separated transversely Vby spaces 16.

Extending transversely under the blocks l5 of the respective sets, and securedto the risers 14, are supporting strips 17, bridging the spaces i6, to eachof'which is secured a series of spring arms 18, one for each space lil. It willbe noted that kthe supporting strips are somewhat narrower i than `the blocks 15, andform` the bottoms of receptacles produced by the spaces `between 'the v`blocks 16 and `risers 14. Each spring Varm 18 is secured at itslower end to a. sup` porting strip 17, the'upper end being free and provided with afgripping `portion 19.

jSaid grippingportion may be an approximately semicircular member, of a width which will permit it to freely move in the 'space 16, within which' it lis located. The

tension of the spring arm 18 is such that the gripping member 19 will normally press against theconti'guous riser 1,4. By so shaping the members 19 a minimum bearing surface upon'the' article to begrippedl isprovid'ed..V

It is preferred to provide the risers withV longitudinal grooves' 20, disposed opposite to thespring arms 18, and' gripping members 19, said grooves being shaped to accommodate the ferrule end of an umbrella or para.- sol stick, as clearly shown in Figure 2, to prevent lateral displacement of the article when-its end 4isengaged `by the gripping member 19. In order to provide a finish to the device, theblocks 15 and the upper edges ofthe risers 14: are covered by tread pieces v9.1. which are provided Vwith openings `22,

through which the ends of the umbrella sticks may be inserted. These vopenings are preferably `surrounded by finishing bushingsQS. Y A I In practice, the receptaclesformed by the spaces 16 are of va depth which does not eX- ceed the usual length of the ferrule end of an umbrella stick,or the like. The article is supported in the display rack, by inserting its ferrule end through lone of the openings 22, until it engages the convex `portion of the gripping member 19, forcing the same back against the tension or' its spring arm 18. The umbrella is `forced in until its end rests upon the supporting strip 17, and the gripping member 19 will Yforce it into the groove -O, so as to clamp it iirmly and hold it against lateral displacement. The tension of the spring arms 18 is su'liicient to grip the end ot' the umbrella stick, with such torce as to hold the umbrella in a perfectly vertical position, thereby insuring an exceedingly neat appearance ot the articles on display, with substantially all ot each article presented inv view, and all ot them maintained in approximate parallelism. Thus the customer has ample opportunity to in- Spect the articles Without necessitating frequent handling, and an attractive display is assured. lVlien it is desired to remove the umbrella, it is only necessary to pull upwardly thereupon, and the gripping member will vield suiiiciently to permit ot its Withdrawal. ln order to prevent mairing of the umbrella .sticks the gripping members 19 are covered With a suitable non-abi'ading substance. rIhe convexity of the members 19 aids in guiding the umbrella stick into position as it is insert-ed, and insures a firm gripping With a minimum bearing surface in contact With the said stick.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood that the invention provides an inexpensive display device, by means ot which umbrellas an-d the like may be supported in stepped relation, and in parallelism, with the covers entirely exposed to view. A further advantage is that the articles are supported in such manner, that the covers Will not be subjected to friction or rubbing, in inserting them into the rack and removing them therefrom. An important advantage is that the device is so constructed, that the various gripping devices Will accommodate themselves to umbrella sticks oi" different thicknesses, Without necessitating previous adjustment.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and rising the same, although Without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is 1. A display rack of the character de scribed comprising means providing a plurality of receptacles supported in stepped relation, said receptacles being ot a depth corresponding to the approximate length of the ierrule end ot a standard umbrella or parasol, spring arms mounted in the bottom portions oic the respective receptacles, and gripping members carried by said arms.

2. A display rack ot the character described comprising means providing a plurality ot receptacles each of a depth corresponding to the approximate length et the ierrule end of a standard umbrella or para.

sol, supporting means in the bottoms of the respective receptacles, spring arms attached at one end to said supporting means, and gripping members carried by the tree ends of said arms.

8. A display rack ot the character described comprising spaced apart inclined stringers, means supported by said stringere providing a plurality ot receptacles each ot a depth corresponding to the approximate length ot' the 'terrule end of a standard uinbrella or parasol, and gripping devices located in the respective receptacles.

ll. A display rack et the character described comprising spaced-apart stringers, spaced apart risers secured to said stringers, means carried by the risers and cooperating therewith to provide a plurality oi receptacles each ot a depth corresponding to the approximate length of the eriule end of a standard unibrclla oi' parasol, and gripping devices in the respective receptacles.

5. A display rack of the character described comprising spaced apart stringers, spaced. apart risers secured to said stringere, means supported by 'lie risers providing a plurality et receptacles, gripping devices in the respective receptacles, and means carried by the risers i'or supporting said gripping devices. s

G. A display rack ot the character described comprising spaced apart stringers, spaced apart risers secured to said stringers, means secured to said risers providing a plurality of receptacles, supporting strips carried by the risers and extending beneath the receptacles, and gripping devices located in the receptacles and secured to said supporting strips.

7. A display rack ot the character described comprising spaced apart stringers, spaced apart risers secured to said stringere, means secured to said risers providing a plurality of receptacles, supporting strips carried by the risers and extending beneath the receptacles, spring arms seciired at one end to said supporting strips and gripping devices secured to the tree ends ot' said spring arms.

8. A display rack of the character described con'iprising means providing a plurality oi" receptacles in stepped relation, each receptacle being of a depth corresponding the approximate length ot the 'lierrule end of a standard umbrella or parasol, and yieldably-supported convex gripping devices in the respective receptacles, each of said receptacles having one wall provided with a groove parallel with and cooperating With a contiguous gripping device.

9. A display rack of the character described comprising a plurality of blocks, means supporting said blocks in spaced relation, supporting strips extending beneath the blocks and crossing the spaces between them, and gripping devices in the spaces beJ tween the blocks and` supported by said strips.

10. A display rack of the character described comprising a plurality of blocks, risers supporting said blocks in spaced relation, means supporting said risers, strips se cured to said risers and extending beneath said blocks, and gripping devices in the spaces between the blocks and secured to said strips.

11. A display rack of the character described comprising a riser, means supporting the same, blocks secured to said riser in spaced relation, gripping devices located in the spaces between the blocks, and a tread member covering said blocks and having openings registering with said spaces.

12. A display rack of the character described comprising inclined stringers, spaced apart risers secured to said stringers in spaced relation, blocks secured to eachriser in spaced relation transversely of the rack, and gripping devices in the spaces between r said blocks.

13. A display rack ofthe character described comprising inclined stringers, spaced apart risers secured to said stringers in spaced relation, blocks secured to each riser in spaced relation transversely of the rack, supporting strips secured to the risers and extending beneath said blocks, and gripping devices secured to said supporting strips and located in the spaces between said blocks.

14. A display rack of the character described comprising inclined stringers, spaced apart risers secured to said stringers in spaced relation, blocks secured to each riser in spaced relation transversely of the rack, supporting strips secured to the risers and extending beneath said blocks, gripping devices secured to said supporting strips and located in the spaces between said blocks, and tread pieces covering said blocks and having openings registering with said spaces.

15. A display rack of the character described comprising inclined stringers, spaced apart risers secured to said stringers in spaced relation, blocks secured to each riser in spaced relation transversely of the rack, supporting strips secured to the risers and extending beneath said blocks, spring arms secured at one end to said strips and located in the spaces betweenV the blocks, gripping devices carried by the free ends of said spring arms, and tread pieces covering Vthe blocks and havingv openings in register with said recesses.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

. ALBERT M. WOLTZ. 

